Paper machine



Sept. 29, 1953 I L. HORNBOSTEL 2,653,522

' PAPER MACHINE Filed se ti 10, 1947 -,2;$ neets-sheet 1 A are Hoe/v50.9721.

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' PAPER MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ZZZ'E'IZ 2 UP4mm bae/vaarrez Patented Sept. 29, 1953 PAPER MACHINE Lloyd Hornbostel,Beloit, Wis., assignor to Beloit Iron Works, Beloit, Wis., a corporationof Wisconsin Application September 10, 1947, Serial No. 773,143

11 Claims.

This invention relates toa paper machine and more particularly to anovel and improved construction of press section for use in a papermachine.

In present high speed paper machines such as are in use todayconsiderable difficulty is experienced in starting the wet web throughthe press section of the machine. As is customary at the start of theoperation, a relatively narrow strip of the wet web is formed on thewire by means of a water jet, and this strip is carried by hand from thesuction couch roll over onto the first bottom felt, which is spacedslightly from the couch roll. Then, as the strip, or tall, as it iscalled, is conveyed along the felt, it is carried into the nip of thefirst press. Where the press is a horizontal dual press such asdescribed and claimed in the Berry Patent No. 2,209,756, there is acomparatively shar change in direction at the point of entry of the tailinto the nip. This is also true in conventional types of press rollassemblies. As a result of the high speed at which the machine isoperated, there is a very strong tendency of the tail to continue in thesame line as the line of the felt before it reaches the nip, and thismakes for difliculty in threading the tail down into the nip. The samedifficulty is experienced wherever the tail must make a sudden change indirection of travel.

In order to avoid this difficulty, I provide a press roll arrangement inwhich the rolls are so dimensioned and arranged that the Web passesthrough the first press assembly without any sharp or sudden change indirection of travel. In its preferred form, the first press assemblycomprises an upper large diameter press roll suspended from an overheadsup-port, and a pair of relatively smaller diameter press rolls arrangedfor adjustably controlled pressure relationship with respect to theunder surface of the upper larger roll. By the use of a sufiicientlylarge diameter upper roll and. the relatively close spacing of the lowersmaller rolls the path of travel of the web through the press assemblycan be made substantially horizontal. With such an arrangement, nodifiiculty is experienced in starting a narrow strip of wet web, ortail, through the first press assembly, since even though the suctionapplied to the lower rolls is not effective because the narrow stripleaves the suction area of the rolls uncovered, the tail will tend tofollow the first lower felt into the first nip and to adhere to the baresurface of the upper large diameter roll until it comes into contactwith the second lower felt, to which it readily adheres in prefer- 2ence to the surface of the upper large diameter roll.

In such a press assembly as just described, only the to surface of thewet web of paper is pressed against a bare roll surface, the lowersurface being in contact with a supporting felt in passing through bothof the pressure nips. If the paper after passing through the first pressassembly were then to be dried and machine finished in the usual way,the top surface would present a somewhat dii'ferent appearance and wouldhave a somewhat different finish from the under surface of the web. Inorder .to provide a similar appearance and finish for both surfaces ofthe web, my

" invention contemplates the use of a second press assembly which is inthe nature of a reverse press and a smoothing press, combined.

In order to eliminate an open draw between the first press assembly andthe second assembly, the second lower felt from the first assembly istrained into contact with the leading press roll of the second pressroll assembly so as to support the web in its travel between the twopress assemblies. The second press assembly is so arranged that theunder surface of the web is brought into the first nip and pressedagainst the bare surface of an intermediate press roll. In this way theunder or lower surface of the web receives the same pressing action asthe top surface of the web received in the first press roll assembly. Inthe second ress roll assembly, the Web is carried on the bare surface ofthe intermediate roll into a second pressure nip formed between theintermediate roll and a third bare surfaced press roll. In this secondnip a smoothing action is effected that tends further to eliminate anydifference between the two surfaces of the web of paper. From the lastmentioned pressure nip the web is guided into the first bottom drier ofa drying section of the paper machine. From there on, the paper is driedin any usual or conventional manner and machine finished.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a pressroll section of a paper machine so arranged and constructed as toeliminate any open draw between the first and second press rollassembly, and with the first press roll assembly so constructed andarranged as to provide for a substantially straight line path of passageof the web through the assembly.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide, incombination, a first press roll assembly in which the upper surface of awet web of paper is subjected to a ressing and smoothing action againsta bare press roll surface, and a second press roll assembly in which thelower surface of the web is subjected to a similar pressing andsmoothing action against a bare press roll surface, whereby the twosurfaces of the web are given a closely similar appearance and finish.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a presssection of a paper machine made up of a plurality of press rollassemblies and an arrangement of top and bottom felts cooperatingtherewith in such a way as to facilitate the feeding of a wet web ofpaper through the press section and to eliminate any open draw betweenthe successive press roll assemblies.

It is a still further important object of this invention to provide afirst press roll assembly made up of a plurality of lower press rollsarranged in horizontal alignment, and an upper larger diameter pressroll against the lower surface of which the lower rolls are brought intoadjustable controlled pressure relationship, the relative arrangementand dimensions of the rolls being such that the wet web of paper inpassing through the press roll assembly travels substantially in astraight line and without any sudden or abrupt changes in line ofdirection of travel, thereby facilitating the threading of a newlystarted web of paper through the press roll assembly.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying claims.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the first press rollassembly, and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the second press r011assembly of a press section embodying the principles of my invention,Figures 1 and 2 together illustrating the complete press section betweenthe forming section and the drying section of a paper machine.

The reference numeral I indicates generally a supporting framework,comprising vertical supporting members II and upper horizontalsupporting members [2 that are supported in turn by said verticalmembers H. The upper horizontal supporting members [2 are common to theframework It shown in Figures 1 and 2 and serve to support some one ormore of the press rolls of both the first press assembly, indicatedgenerally as P-l, and the second press assembly, indicated generally asP-2.

As indicated somewhat diagrammatically in Figure l, a suction couch rollI3 is journaled in bearing supports l4 that constitute a part of thevertical supporting members I I of the first press roll assembly P-l.Said suction couch roll I3 is provided with a suction chamber l5 whichis exhausted through a hollow supporting pedestal l6 at one end of theroll. As is customary, the suction r011 l3 constitutes a part of theforming section of the paper machine, a Fourdrinier wire, indicated indotted lines by the numeral I! being trained around a breast roll (notshown) at the leading end of the forming section and around the couchroll at the other end of the forming section.

The first press roll assembly P-l comprises a relatively large diameterupper press roll l8 journaled at its ends in bearing hangers [9 that aresupported by or form a part of dependent supporting arms 29 carried bythe overhead horizontal frame members [2. Horizontally extending bracingand supporting members 2| extend between the bearing hangers l9 and thevertical supporting frame members ll. Said horizontal- 1y extendingbracing and supporting elements 2! serve both to support a doctor bladeassembly, indicated generally at 22, and a broke box 23, and to providean overhead walk, indicated in dotted lines at 24, which is guarded by arail 25. The doctor blade assembly 22 serves to scrape and clean theupper roll l8 and to guide any web material that may be scrapedtherefrom into the broke box 23, which can be tended by an operator fromthe cat-walk 24.

The large diameter upper roll 18 is suitably made of an artificial stonecomposition, but may be made of any suitable material customarilyemployed for press roll construction. As indicative of the relative sizeof the upper roll I8, the diameter may be of the order of five feet. Ingeneral, the diameter of the upper press roll will be around twice thediameter of the lower press rolls of the first press roll assembly P-l.

A pair of lower press rolls 26 and 21 are arranged in horizontalalignment in relatively closely spaced relation to each other and inpressure relationship to the lower surface of the upper press roll [8.The press roll 26 is journaled at its ends in bearing supports '28,which are carried by pivotally mounted arms 28. The arms 29 are pivotedas at 30 and the other ends of said arms are secured to a movable collar3| forming parts of mechanical jack structures 32. By operation of thejacks 32, the roll 25 is caused to press more or less heavily againstthe under surface of the upper roll [8. The press roll 26 is preferablyof the suction type and is provided with a suction chamber indicated indotted lines at 33, just in advance of the nip, N-l between said lowerroll 26 and the upper roll 18. The suction chamber 33 is exhaustedthrough the front end of the roll 26 by means of a conduit 34. Theconduit 34 is provided with a telescopic joint 35 to permit theaccommodation of the conduit to the raising and lowering of the roll 26.

The other lower press roll 2'! is of similar construction and issupported in a generally similar fashion by means of pivotally mountedarms 36 about a pivot point 31. Jacks 38 serve to raise and lower theroll 21. A jointed conduit 39 serves for the exhausting of the interiorof the press roll 21, which is provided with a suction chamber 40divided b a partition 4| into two compartments, a compartment 42 inadvance of the nip, indicated at N-2, and a compartment 43 extendingbeyond said nip.

A first bottom felt 45 is associated with the first press roll 26 forconveying a web of paper, indicated in dotted lines at 46, into thefirst pressure nip N-l. Said felt 45 extends upwardly in contact with anautomatic felt guide 41 and is trained around a roller 48 carried at itsends by arms 49 from the bearing hangers 28. The felt 45, with a wet webof paper thereon when the machine is operating, comes into contact withthe first lower press roll 26 in advance of the nip N-I and is trainedby means of a second felt guide roll 50 to hug the lower surface of theupper roll I8 for a short distance beyond said nip N-l. The felt 45after passing around the guide roll 50 extends downwardly to felt dryingequipment (not shown) which may be located below the flooring F on whichthe press section is supported.

A second bottom felt 52 is associated with the second lower press roll21 for conveying the wet web of paper to the second press assembly P-2,Said lower press felt 52 passes upwardly in contact with a felt guideroll 53 into the nip N-2 and is partially lapped around the lower pressroll 21, from which it passes in a substantially horizontal line to thesecond press roll assembly P-2. The arrangement and function of saidlower press roll felt 52 will be further described in connection withthe following description of the second press roll assembly P-Z.

Said press roll assembly P-2 comprises a stationary intermediate pressroll 55 journaled at its ends in supporting brackets 56 that aredependent from and supported by the overhead frame members ii. A pair ofouter press rolls 51 and 58 are arranged, one on either side of theintermediate roll 55, with their axes slightly above the axis of theintermediate roll 55 but in general horizontal alignment therewith. Therolls 5'! and 58 are pivotally mounted from the bracket 56 by means ofhangers 59 and 6t pivoted, as at 6! and 52, respectively, to thedependent brackets 55. Identical means are provided for both of theouter rolls 5'! and 533 to enable said outer rolls to be urged againstthe intermediate roll 55 with the desired amount of pressure. Said meansare described and claimed in my copending application for patent SerialNo. 607,728, filed July 30, 1945. Said means include, in the case of theroll 51, a pair of lever arms 53 pivoted adjacent their lower ends, asat 54, to portions of the dependent brackets 55. The upper ends of saidarms 63 are arranged for actuation by means of the flexible diaphragms65 of a pair of fluid pressure operated diaphragm assemblies 65. Air orother fluid under pressure is admitted to the diaphragm chambers 61 froma source of the compressed fluid (not shown) to act against saiddiaphragms 65 and thus against the corresponding ends of the arms 63. Acasing 58 is carried by each of the arms 63 to partially enclose andprotect the diaphragms 65.

The lower ends of the lever arms 63 are provided with hook-likeextremities 69 for receiving and retaining the ends it ofpressure-applying rods "H. Said rods H are provided with intermediateportions 12 that engage with the lower notched ends T3 of the rollsupporting arms 55. Manually operated pressure applying means E i aremounted upon the free ends of said rods 71!, as at 15. By virtue of athreaded engagement (not shown) between the manually operated members Mand the rod portions '55, the roll 5! can initially be caused to bearagainst the inter mediate roll 55 with the desired amount of pressure,prior to operation of the fluid pressure controlled diaphragm assemblies55. Thereafter, the proper amount of pressure between the outer roll 5?and the intermediate roll 55 is built up and controlled by means of thediaphragm assemblies 56. As is apparent from the construction shown onthe drawings, distention outwardly of the diaphragms 65 causes the upperends of the arms 63 to move toward the left, as shown in the drawings,and therefore causes the lower ends 59 to move toward the right andplace the rods 5 5 under tension tending to urge the outer roll 5? intopressure relationship with the intermediate roll 55.

Since identical means are employed for controlling the pressurerelationship between the other outer roll 58 and the intermediate roll55, it is not necessary to describe such other means. A controlledamount of pressure is thus set up at the nip N-3 between the outer roll58 and the intermediate roll 55, and at the pressure nip N-i between theouter roll 57 and the intermediate roll 55. The roll 58 is a suctionpress roll, being provided with a suction chamber indicated in dottedlines at I6 just ahead of the nip N-3. The intermediate roll 55 ispreferably a stone roll, similar to the press roll I8, while the otherouter roll 51 is a plain press roll, preferably rubber surfaced.

The second bottom felt 52, previously referred to, has a horizontal runthat is trained against the lower portion of the outer press roll 58 bymeans of a felt guide roll 18. The felt passes around said guide roll 18and downwardly into contact with an automatic felt guide roll '19, whichis mounted upon a felt guide roll assembly 80. The lower run of the felt52 passes beneath the flooring F to be dried and then upwardly intocontact with the felt guide roll 53, as already described. The wet webof paper 45 carried on the upper surface of the felt 52 is transferredat the roll 58 to the under side of an upper felt 3 l. The transferrenceof the web from the lower felt 52 to the upper felt 8| is aided by asuction chamber, indicated in dotted lines at 82 positioned in saidsuction press roll 58 at a point just beyond the first line of contactbetween said felts 52 and 8|.

The upper felt 8| has an upper horizontal run above the frame members [2around rolls 33, 84, 85 and 86. The downwardly extending run of the felt8! is guided around a felt guide roll 81 into lapping relationship withthe outer roll 58, from which the felt 8| passes upwardly around theoutermost upper guide roll 86. In its upper passage, the felt 8| passesinto contact, as at 88, with the intermediate roll 55 to transfer theweb to the surface of said intermediate roll 55. Owing to the tendencyof a wet web to adhere more strongly to a roll surface than to a felt,the web is automatically transferred to the bare surface of theintermediate roll 55 upon being brought into contact therewith at theline of contact 88.

The Web is then carried on the bare surface of the intermediate roll 55into the pressure nip N-fl and at that point is transferred to thesurface of the outer press roll 51. Since the pressure at the nip N4 isbetween roll surfaces, without any intervening felt, the action upon thewet web is that of a smoothing press at the nip N-4. At the nip N-3,however, it is only the bottom, or wire, side of the web 46 that comesin contact with a bare roll surface, namely the surface of theintermediate roll 55, since at the nip N-3 the web 46 is still carriedby a felt, the felt 8 I.

Thus, the top surface of the web 46 is brought at the nip N-l and at thenip N-2 into contact with the bare surface of the stone roll l8, whilethe bottom surface of the web is brought into contact with bare surfaceof the stone roll 55, and the web is subsequently subjected to asmoothing and pressing action at the nip N- i. In this way, both sidesof the web are finished alike. Because of its reversing action upon theweb 55, the combination of the outer roll 58 with the intermediate pressroll 55 is referred to as a reverse press, and the combination of theother outer roil with the intermediate roll 55 is referred to as asmoothing press because that is the action offected by this lattercombination, From the nip N4, the web 46 passes over a guide rollagainst the surface of the first bottom drier drum 5%. A bottom drierfelt 92, passing around a guide roll 93 holds said web 46 against thelower surface of the drier drum 9| and aids in the conveyance of the webas it passes through the drier section,

which may be of usual or conventional construction and design.

Referring again to some of the advantages of the press sectionconstruction as just described, the construction and arrangement of thefirst press section P-i makes possible a substantially horizontal lineof travel of the wet web 66 from the time it leaves the lower suctioncouch roll l3 until it reaches the second press assembly P-2. Theabsence of any sharp or abrupt changes in direction of travel of the wetweb 45 through the first press roll assembly P-l greatly reduces andeven eliminates entirely the trouble that an operator would otherwiseexperience in starting a wet web through the first press section. Thenarrow strip of web, or tail as it is referred to, is manually strippedfrom the suction couch roll :3 and deposited upon the upper run of thelower press felt 45, but from there on the web automatically transfersitself to the lower surface of the stone roll I 8 and from such surfaceto the web 52 at the nip N-2. If there is any break in the web and theweb for some reason continues upwardly in contact with the surface ofthe roll l8, such web is scraped off of the roll surface by means of thedoctor blade assembly 22. Said doctor blade assembly 22 includes a bladeproper 95 and a downwardly extending apron 96, which together cause thebroke to be deposited in the broke box 23. The fact that the broke box23 is at an elevated level, out of the way of the rolls and felt,greatly facilitates the handling of the broke. The overhead mounting ofthe large diameter press roll l8 also makes possible the substantiallyhorizontal line of travel of the web through the first press assemblyP-I, as already described.

The arrangement of the lower press rolls 26 and 21 in bearingrelationship to the under surface of the upper large diameter roll [8affords all of the advantages of a dual press roll assembly while stillpermitting the substantially horizontal line of travel of the webthrough the first press assembly. The degree of pressure between therolls 26 and I8 and between the rolls 2'! and I8 is separately adjustedand controlled by means of the mechanical jacks 32 and 38 and theirassociated elements.

The arrangement of the second bottom felt 52 eliminates an open drawbetween the two press assemblies R4 and P2. The transfer of the wet webof paper 48 from the first press to the second press is thusautomatically accomplished and re-- quires practically no attention fromthe operator of the machine. Similarly, the conveyance of the webthrough the second press assembly P-2 is automatic and requires littleor no attention on the part of the machine tender. A doctor blade orscraper assembly N is provided for cooperation with the lower surface ofthe intermediate roll 55 to keep that surface clean before coming incontact with the web of paper carried on the under surface of the felt8|. Any scrapings at the doctor blade assembly H70 fall by gravity intoan open pit or a broke box, as the case may be. So far as the operationof the second press roll assembly P-2 is concerned, upon the starting upof the machine or the threading of a tail to and through the press rollassemblies, all that the machine tender need do at the second press rollassembly is to take the tail off the under side of the outer press roll5'? and lead it over the guide roll 90 and into the draw between thebottom drier felt 92 and the first bottom drier drum 8|. At this point,of course, the web 46 is much drier and stronger by reason of havingpassed through the dual press P-l and the reverse and smoothing pressP-2, so that the web can be handled more easily and with less danger ofthe web breaking. It will, of course, be apparent to anyone skilled inthe paper making art that once the tail has been started into the driersection, and even before that point is reached, the machine tender movesthe squirter across the face of the Fourdrinier wire toward the backside of the wire until the full width of web from the wire is passingfrom the suction couch roll l3 across the gap onto the horizontal run ofthe first bottom press felt 45.

As soon as the full width of the web is traveling through the pressassembly, the suction action of the suction chambers 33 and 43, ofcourse, is effective to make the web follow the path that it is intendedto follow. The suction chambers 33 and 40 also perform the function ofextracting some additional water from the web 46 and in removing waterfrom the in-side of the nips N-I and N-2. In the second press rollassembly P-2, the suction chamber 82 aids in effecting the transfer ofthe web 46 from the second lower press felt 52 to the first upper pressfelt 8|, while the suction chamber 16 performs the previously describedfunction of extracting water am the web and keeping the in-side of nipN? 'lry.

It is apparent from the foregoing description of the press section of myinvention and its mode of operation that there is true cooperationbetween the various elements of the two press roll assemblies, the dualpress roll assembly P-l affecting primarily the surface characteristicsof the top surface of the web and the reverse press combination ofsub-assembly P-2 affecting primarily the surface characteristics of theunder surface of the web, while the smoothing press combinationcomprising the intermediate roll 55 and the other outer roll 51 performsprimarily a smoothing action with respect to both the surfaces of theweb.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a paper machine, a press section for receiving and pressing a wetweb, comprising a first press arranged with a pair of lower horizontallyaligned rolls and a single larger diameter upper roll having a diameterabout twice the diameter of each of said lower rolls for cooperationwith said lower rolls to press the upper side of said web against thebare surface of said upper roll, a reverse press arranged with aplurality of horizontally aligned rolls in bearing relationship definingsuccessive vertically extendin nips. lower felt for conveying the webhorizontally from said first press to the reverse press, and an upperfelt cooperating with said lower felt to receive said web therefrom andconvey said web into a vertical nip between rolls of said reverse pressfor pressing the bottom side of said web against a bare roll surface.

2. In a paper machine. a press section for receiving and pressing a wetweb, comprising a first dual press containing a bare roll, a horizontalreverse press containing a bare roll and a pair of felts, one positionedabove the other, cooperating therewith to effect the pressingsuccessively of the top and bottom surfaces of said web and finally bothsurfaces of said web against a bare roll surface, the lower one of saidfelts conveying the web from said first press to said reverse press toeliminate an open draw said one felt being disposed to convey said webbetween said presses in a substantially horizontal plane.

3. In a paper machine, a press section for receiving and pressing a wetweb, comprising a dual press, a reverse press and a pair of felts, onepositioned above the other, cooperating therewith, the lower one of saidfelts being horizontal for conveying the web horizontally from said dualpress to said reverse press to eliminate an open draw, said dual presshaving a lower pair of horizontally aligned rolls and an upper singleroll forming pressure nips with said lower rolls, the relative diametersof the rolls being in the proportion of about two to one so that theline of travel of the web through said pressure nips is substantiallyhorizontal, and said reversed press having a plurality of horizontallyaligned press rolls defining a pair of consecutive vertical nips, thefirst of said vertical nips receiving therethrough the upper one of saidfelts and said web thereon to subject one surface only of said web to abare r011 surface, and the second of said vertical nips receivingtherethrough said web alone to subject both surfaces of said web to bareroll surfaces.

4. In a paper machine, a press section including a dual press and areverse press, the dual press comprising a pair of lower horizontallyaligned rolls, a single upper roll having a diameter about twice that ofeach of said lower rolls, a stationary overhead support having dependingportions in which said upper roll is journaled, means supporting saidlower rolls in adjustable pressure relationship to said upper roll toprovide successive pressure nips therebetween, and a first lower feltfor conveying a wet web into the leading one of said nips for contactwith and conveyance on the bare surface of said upper roll to thesuccessive nip, the reverse press comprising three horizontally alignedrolls, a dependent portion of said overhead support supporting themiddle of said rolls, members pivotally depending from said support forsupporting the outer two of said three rolls, means cooperating withsaid members for controlling the nip pressure between said two outerrolls and said middle roll, an upper felt partly lapped around the firstof said outer rolls and passing through the corresponding nip, and alower horizontal felt passing through the succeeding one of the pressurenips of the dual press for conveying a wet web thereon into contact withsaid upper felt to transfer said web from said dual press to the upperfelt of said reverse press for transfer to the bare surface of saidmiddle roll and passage of said web unsupported by any felt through saidreverse press, the consecutive nips of said dual press subjecting onesurface only of said web to the smoothing effect of the bare upper rollsurface, the first nip of the reverse press subjecting only the reversedweb surface to the smoothing effect of the bare middle roll surface, andthe second nip of the reverse press simultaneously subjecting both websurfaces to the smoothing effect of the bare middle roll and the secondof said outer rolls.

5. A method of making paper, which comprises subjecting a wet web ofpaper while supported on a conveying surface to pressure against a barerotating surface for transfer of said web to said rotating surface withthe top surface of said web thereagainst, transferring said web fromsaid rotating surface without an open draw to a substantially horizontaltraveling supporting surface, passing said traveling surface with saidWeb thereon into contact with an endless conveying member for transferof said web thereto and passing said conveying member and web into apressure nip with the lower surface of said web in contact with a secondbare rotating surface for 10 transfer thereto and finally simultaneouslycon tacting both surfaces of said web with bare relatively rotatingsurfaces, whereby both surfaces of said web are subjected to a similarpressing action against a bare rotating surface.

6. A method of making paper, which comprises subjecting a wet web ofpaper while supported on a horizontal run of a conveying felt topressure against a bare rotating surface for transfer of said web tosaid rotating surface with the top surface of said web thereagainst,transferring said web from said rotating surface without an open draw toa horizontally traveling supporting surface, passing said travelingsurface with said web thereon into contact with an endless conveyingmember for transfer of said Web thereto and passing said conveyingmember and web into a pressure nip with the lower surface of said web incontact with a second bare rotating surface for transfer thereto andsimultaneously contacting both web surfaces simultaneously with barerotating surfaces including said second bare rotating surface, wherebyboth surfaces of said web are subjected to a similar pressing actionagainst a bare rotating surface and whereby said web is at all timessupported from the time said web leaves said first conveying felt untilsaid web leaves said second bare rotating surface.

'7. In a paper machine, a press section for receiving and pressing a wetweb, comprising a first press for pressing the top side of the webagainst a bare roll surface, a reverse press separate and apart fromsaid first press for pressing the bottom side of the web against a bareroll surface, a first means for receiving the wet web and for supportingand feeding the wet web into said first press without an open draw and asecond means for supporting and conveying the web between said firstpress and said reverse press without an open draw, said first press andsaid first and second means being so positioned that the web ismaintained in a substantially horizontal plane during its travel throughsaid first press and on both said first and said second means.

8. In a paper machine, a press section for receiving and pressing a wetweb, comprising a dual press for pressing the top side of the webagainst a bare roll surface, a receiving felt for receiving the wet weband for supporting and feeding the wet web so received into said dualpress without an open draw, a horizontal reverse press separate andapart from said dual press for pressing the bottom side of the webagainst a bare roll surface, a first transfer felt for supporting andconveying the web from said dual press to said reverse press without anopen draw, and a second transfer felt for receiving the web from saidfirst transfer felt and carrying the web through a nip of said reversepress, said dual press and said receiving felt and said first transferfelt being so arranged that the web is maintained in a substantiallyhorizontal plane during its travel through said dual press and on saidreceiving and first transfer felts.

9. In a process of removing water from a continuously moving web in apress section of a paper machine, including a first press and a reversepress, including the steps of (1) drawing the continuously moving webfrom a forming section of the paper machine, (2) then pressing only thetop side of the moving web against a bare rotating surface of said firstpress, (3) next pressing only the bottom side of the moving web againsta bare against bare rotating surfaces, the improvement that comprisescarrying the web in a substantially horizontal direction andcontinuously supporting said web from a point in the moving webs travelin between steps (1) and (2) until the point at which the moving webfirst contacts the reverse press of step (3).

10. In a paper machine, a press section for receiving and pressing a wetweb, comprising a. first press for pressing the top side of the webagainst a bare roll surface, a reverse press separate and apart fromsaid press for pressing the bottom side of the web against a bare rollsurface, a first transfer felt for supporting and conveying the web fromsaid first press to said reverse press without an open draw, and asecond transfer felt for receiving the web from said first transfer feltand carrying the web through a nip of said reverse press, said firstpress and said first transfer felt being so arranged that the web ismaintained in a substantially horizontal plane during its travel throughsaid first press and on said first transfer felt.

11. In a paper machine, a press section for receiving and pressing a wetweb, comprising a first press containing a bare roll, a horizontalreverse press containing a bare roll, and a pair of felts, onepositioned above the other, cooperating therewith to effect the pressingsuccessively of the top 12 and bottom surfaces of said web and finallyboth surfaces of said web against a bare roll surface, the lower one ofsaid felts conveying the web from said first press to said reverse pressto eliminate an open draw and said lower felt being disposed to conveysaid web between said presses in a substantially horizontal plane.

LLOYD HORNBOSTEL.

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